MODAL VERBS

*CAN
Usage of Can:
-To express an ability or lack of ability in present or future.
-Giving or not giving permission.

Affirmative
Subject +can +main verb
Examples:
1-I can speak English fluently.
2-You can use my office..
Negative
Subject + can not (can't) + main verb
Examples:
1-I can't speak French.

2-You can't still here.

Questions
Can + subject + main verb ?

Examples:
1-Can I help you ?

2-I can see you at 5:00 p.m tomorrow.Can you

manage that?

*COULD
Usage of Could:
- Ability or lack of ability.
-The second common usage of could is for
making a request ( always in the question
form )
- The third usage of could is making a suggestion
( Only in the affirmative )

Affirmative
Subject + could + main verb
Examples:
1-The team could win the match
easily.

2-We could have BBQ.

Negative
Subject + could not (couldn't) + main verb

Examples:
1-I couldn't finish work.

2-I

couldn't read last day.

Questions
Could + subject + main verb ?
Examples:
1-Could you please open the
door?
2- could you tell me a story ?
*WILL
Usage of will:
-to talk about the future to say what we believe will happen.

-to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do.

-to make promises and offers

Affirmative
Subject + will + main verb
Examples:
1-He will buy a car.
2- I will give you a call on monday.

Negative
Subject + will not (won't) + main verb
Examples:
1-He won't today. He will be busy.
2-My car won't start. I'll have to call
the workshop.
Questions
Will + subject + main verb
Examples:
1-Will you please open the window?
2-Will they go to the garden?
*WOULD
Usage of would:
- to talk about the past.
- to talk about hypotheses things that are imagined rather
than true.

-for politeness
Affirmative
Subject + would + main verb
Examples:
1-He would come tomorrow.

2-I would like some tea.

Questions
Would + subject + main verb ?
Examples:
1-Would you like a cup of coffee?
2-Would you mind if I opened a
window?

*SHOUID
Usage of should:
-give advice or make
recommendations
-talk about obligation
-talk about probability and
expectation
-express the conditional mood
-replace a subjunctive structure

Affirmative

Subject + should + main verb

Examples:
1-You should study hard.
2-we should help the poor.
Negative
Subject + should not (shouldn't) + main verb

Examples:
1-You shouldn't have a lot of sugar
2-You shouldn't arrive late
tomorrow.
Questions
Should + subject + main verb ?
Examples:
1-Should I come early tomorrow?
2-Should you study hard?

*MAY
Usage of May.
-we use may to ask for permission.

-The second usage of may is to indicate a strong

possibility in the present or future.

Affirmative
Subject + may + main verb
Examples:
1-I may go to the store later.
2-You may watch TV after dinner.
Negative
Subject + may not + main verb
Examples:
1-I may not have time to do it tody.
Questions
May + subject + main verb ?
Examples:
1-May I borrow your pen ?
2-May we think about it?

*MIGHT
Usage of Might:
Might it also use to express a possibility in the
-present or future.

-the second usage of might is a possibility in the

past ( follow by 'have done' )

Affirmative
Subject + might + main verb
Examples:
1-He might have missed his bus.
2-It might happen again.
Negative
Subject + might not + main verb
1-I might not have time to go to the
shop with you.
2-She might not accept the coffee.